Ex-Hall & Wilcox partner to head up legal team

A former senior partner at Hall & Wilcox has departed his role to take on a leadership position at a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs.

The BlueRock Group has announced it has appointed Bruce McFarlane (pictured) to head up its legal team, BlueRock Partners.

The BlueRock Group is self-described as a specialist entrepreneurial advisory firm, which provides accounting, law, wealth management and digital technology solutions.

In his new role as managing partner for BlueRock Partners, Mr McFarlane said the legal team was “originally spun out of law firm Plexus in 2014 where the idea was to provide a low-cost, tech-based legal firm for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial corporates”.

“Plexus and BlueRock partners continue to work closely with numerous common clients, from SMEs and start-ups to globally listed companies predominantly in the retail and hospitality sectors,” he said.

Mr McFarlane said it was BlueRock’s people-driven culture that attracted him to the group.

“We encourage our people to be business-savvy, and it’s that culture and vision of The BlueRock Group that attracted me. It takes the entrepreneurial idea to another level,” he said.

“People here are encouraged to have outside businesses – whether it be a bar or online jewellery. In traditional law and accounting firms, that’s generally discouraged.

“The group operates very differently to other firms. For example, there was a capital raising from staff in 2016, resulting in 20 buying into the holding company, Everything is Awesome, after a valuation of the group. There will be an additional capital raising this year.”

In addition to Mr McFarlane, The BlueRock partners team has partner Dan Holdsworth as well as 15 staff.